Ah, the Porsche Panamera. Ever since the start of the decade, Porsche’s first venture into the luxury sedan market has established itself as a contender in the German-dominated segment. The four-door car is a proven Jack-of-all-trades. Many variants are available, ranging from diesel and hybrid models all the way to the 192 mph Turbo S. The Panamera was not perfect, though. In terms of appearance, well, it definitely wasn’t one of Porsche’s prettiest offerings. But, luckily, that’s about to change. Porsche has just revealed the second-generation Panamera, and it seems poised to right some of its predecessor’s wrongs.

Let’s start with the styling, shall we? At the front end, the second-gen Panamera employs a much sharper design than before. A well-defined set of grilles come together with a new set of headlights and a more angular hood to form an aggressive fascia. The car’s side profile is where it shares most with its predecessor, with several new lines down the body helping to differentiate the new car. The roofline has also been smoothed out towards the rear to create a more pleasing shape. At the back, the new tail lights are connected with a LED strip, topped with a Porsche badge, which carries a distinct resemblance to the new 718s. Everything else is business as usual, adding up to a design that is undoubtedly better than Porsche’s first efforts. It still isn’t the best looking car I’ve ever seen, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction.

Not only does the new Panamera look different, but it’s also powered by different engines. The two variants available in the U.S. at launch are the Panamera 4S and Panamera Turbo. The former is powered by a 2.9-liter, twin-turbo V6, while the latter gets a 4-liter, twin-turbo V8. These engines produce 440 and 550 horsepower respectively, and both send their power to all four wheels via Porsche’s PDK transmission. 0-60 happens in 4.4 seconds in the 4S and 3.8 in the Turbo. Those times can also drop by 0.2 seconds if the buyer options Porsche’s Sport-Chrono package, which introduces launch control among other go-faster accessories.

The Panamera’s interior has also received a thorough redesign. A fresh new touch-screen display can be found on the dashboard, with a futuristic-looking control panel located on the center console. Another control panel is available for passengers sitting in the back, allowing them to adjust everything from climate control to heated seats. Overall, the interior is as full of technology and fine leather as one would expect from a luxury sedan, which comes as no surprise.

Overall, the second generation Panamera is a breath of fresh air for the company. The car features a sharp design, a lavish interior, and a pair of powerful-yet-economical engines to choose from. It represents a welcome change from the car that has occupied production lines since 2010, and I look forward to seeing it on the road soon. For all the latest news on Porsche, as well as the rest of the German luxury segment, make sure to stay tuned to Oh So Lofty.